The college experience is full of many things. Meeting new people, learning new things, exploring your own mind and formulating your own ideas about our world. It is also full of deadlines, finals, projects, quizzes, and little if anything at all is "simple". For that reason, the Computer Services Department has compiled this short list of helpful hints and tips for the student to help guide them safely through the experience of college, here at DCC.

• Time Management -- The most important thing you can ever learn anywhere about anything.


• Every student eventually runs into something that boggles them, there's nothing wrong with getting a little help. DCC has several options available to you to find help, such as the Learning Center.


• NEVER....EVER....Keep all of your eggs in one basket, ESPECIALLY computer files. Save important documents often, and save the most important of your files not just often, but copy them to at least two locations on separate devices.  For instance save a file to your networked H: drive, and to a disk or jumpdrive.


• The "Disk" can and will eat your homework. Scan any floppy disks for viruses before using them, make sure the disk is in good order before saving to it, and never delete the copy on your hard drive or networked drive at least until you have tested the copy on the disk to ensure it is all there.


• Jumpdrives are becoming nearly indispensable. They hold a lot of information, they are more reliable than regular floppy disks and they are more durable as well. We suggest that you obtain one for regular use, especially if you are taking computer related courses. You can obtain one from the Bookstore.


• If you have a problem with a project, don't be afraid to tell your instructor right away. If they aren't able to provide you with a solution, they can direct you to someone who can. At the very least you make them aware of your problem before the last minute, because very little can be done at the last minute to resolve most problems.


• The computer labs aren't just for classes, you are free to work in them as long as you wish, while class is not in session, as well as during Open Lab on Sunday afternoons.


• Music, file-sharing and bandwidth. File-sharing networks, such as Bearshare, Kazaa and Gnutella etc... are a drain on the college's internet resources. Just one person using these programs can slow down the network for everyone on campus. Not to mention that the vast majority of the content available through those services is copy-righted material, and possession of those materials could lead to criminal prosecution. The Department of Computer Services can determine if someone is using these programs by monitoring the network and you can have your internet connection severed. We are more than willing to reconnect you if you remove the offending programs and files from your computer, but repeated use could lead to a permanent loss of your internet connection.